Lots of people in the racing world mistake Matt Kenseth’s laconic personality for a lack of insight.

They could not be further from the truth.

The Wisconsin native, in fact, is as insightful as anyone in NASCAR, he just chooses to use way fewer word to demonstrate it.

While a Brad Keselowski can, and will, wax eloquently on almost any manner of subject to do with stock car racing, or the world in general, Kenseth likes to get to the point and stay there.

Take for example, his win this past Sunday in the STP 400 at Kansas Speedway, where he started from the pole in the No 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and in very workman like fashion, won the race.

Kenseth was asked afterwards to comment on how it was he was able to do just that.

“As far as winning from the pole, I mean, the fastest car is supposed to win, right?” he said.

“That’s what racing is all about.”

You see, direct and to the point.

If the questioner was looking for some long, convoluted philosophical answer, he was asking the wrong person.

It doesn’t mean that Kenseth doesn’t get it, he does. He just chooses to use his words carefully, like Scrooge handing out turkeys at Christmas.

When he realized the media was looking for a longer answer about how it happened that the past three Sprint Cup races have been won by the pole-sitter, he gave it, but even then he was parsimonious with his response.

“I don’t think it really has anything to do with the cars the way everything worked out,” Kenseth said. “It’s not like all three of those races, it’s not like the pole-sitter went out and led every lap. “Things happened. You got shuffled back, you had to pass cars. I mean for 400 miles or 500 miles, you’re not going to stay out front the whole time.

“Everything worked out at the end. We were in the front for that last pit stop and was able to hold stationary and get out in clean air, so that was key.”

Then, in very typical Kenseth fashion, he half apologised for not being more colourful in his response to another question about whether he foresaw success coming this fast from moving — after 14 seasons at Roush Fenway Racing — to JGR this season.

“I’m usually a — I hate to say I’m a glass half empty guy — but instead of talking about it I like to do it and then talk about it,” he said. “I don’t like to make predictions, I’m just not that guy.

“But anyway, I couldn’t have had a better feeling about it all when I decided to do it, and certainly that feeling hasn’t changed.

“It’s a special organization, and man, they’ve got some great race cars and (Toyota) does a great job with the engines. They’ve got everything they need there to win races and championships.”

It not be a surprise to see Kenseth win his second Sprint Cup championship seven months down he road at Homestead Miami Speedway.

FINISH LINES

Seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi — fresh off a sixth-place finish at Circuit Of The Americas at Austin, Tex., on Sunday — was very impressive in testing a NASCAR Nationwide car at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday. Getting into one of Kyle Busch’s Toyotas Rossi’s lap times would have been quick enough to be in the top half of a Nationwide grid according to onlookers. ... Two-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series champion Scott Steckly has signed a deal with Johnsonville Sausage to be an associate sponsor on his No. 22 Dodge for 2013 season. ... After just one test session with the DeltaWing Racing Cars team at Road Atlanta, Katherine Legge will make her first race start at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 11. She joins Andy Meyrick for an all-English driver lineup for the DeltaWing’s first start at Monterey in the American Le Mans Series. ... The Indianapolis 500 got another paid driver — one who pays a team to let him race — when Office Depot Mexico ponied up the dough for Michel Jourdain Jr. to drive a third Rahal Letterman Lanigan Honda at the big track next month.

PENSKE DENIES CHEATING ALLEGATIONS

According to Roger Penske, the accusations that his NASCAR Sprint Cup No. 2 and No. 22 Ford teams cheated at Texas Motor Speedway, are not exactly black and white.

In fact, Penske said they are sort of gray.

Speaking to Associated Press writer Jenna Fryer at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Penske said he never thought the team was doing anything illegal with the rear housings on Brad Keselowski’s or Joey Logano’s Fords.

“I certainly don’t think it’s cheating,” Penske said. “You are looking at the rules and you are working in a gray area. We all work in the gray areas. We’re trying to be as competitive as we can be, we’ve got very creative minds and it takes a lot of creative minds to be competitive.

“There are many different areas we are all working on. We just looked at a particular rule that maybe NASCAR has a different view of.”

NASCAR had a different view docking both drivers 25 points and fining each of their crew chiefs $100,000.

Most damaging, however, is that NASCAR suspended the crew chiefs, the head engineers from both teams and Penske’s competition director for six races.

All of the penalties are being appealed.

— Dean McNulty

KYLE BUSCH (EXPLETIVE, EXPLETIVE) AT STP 400

If there was ever a doubt about why NASCAR fans buy those race scanners to listen to their favourite drivers, what happened to Kyle Busch in the STP 400 is the reason.

Busch was involved in a spin and a big wreck. Here is a transcript of his communication with his team after his spin:

“I have no hint of loose. Not one (expletive) time. And it just spins out. I’m having a hard time comprehending what the (expletive) I’m doing out here.”

After his second wreck: “(Expletive, expletive). Wrecking. Kansas, right?”

— Dean McNulty

RANT

About three-quarters through the NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400 at Kansas Speedway Sunday afternoon Danica Patrick was getting frustrated at what she thought were David Gilliland’s attempts to wreck her.

In a radio transmission to her crew chief Tony Gibson she said: “He (Gilliland) tries to take me out every time. Tell his spotter that I’m coming after him if he does it again. In fact I might just do it right now.”

Gibson simply tried to calm his driver down, when in fact he should have told her that is what happens when you are racing for the 25th position instead of a top 10 position.

Patrick has got to learn to expect to be raced hard by guys like Gilliland who might never, ever get mentioned on race day except when they are racing NASCAR’s new, and brightest star.

Gilliland is, and always will be, a back marker. Not that he is without talent, but he likely will never get an opportunity with a top sponsor or team like Patrick.

And that makes him race her a little harder.

But Patrick should know this and also should heed the advice Gilliland had for her after the race: “Shut up and race.”